Show-rack.



0. B. WINSTON.

SHOW BACK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 1909.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR B. WINSTON, 0F LUXORA, ARKANSAS.

SHOW-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

Application filed September 8, 1909. Serial No. 516,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR B. WINSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Luxora, in the county of Mississippi and State of Arkansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Show-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved rack or suspending device for showing and exhibiting garments and articles of various kinds for inspection and sale; and the invention has for its object to produce an article of this kind which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be etfectively used in stores and salesrooms Where garments and the like are to be exhibited.

A- further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which provision shall be made for vertical adjustment of the garment supporting member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary deviceof the character described which shall be supported for rotation upon anti-friction bearings connected with a rod or member aflording a central support.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in View which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being however understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional. elevation of a show rack constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the cap pieces of the rack, detached. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail showing the members of the bearing for one of the suspending rods. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken through a portion of the cap plate and through the upper end of one of the suspending rods. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the modified construction of the cap plate. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view illustrating a slightly modified construction of one of the bearing members.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

A suspending rod 7 of suitable length is provided at one end with an eye 8 adapted to engage a suspending hook 9 which may be connected with the ceiling 10 of the room where the device is to be used. The rod 7 which is provided at its lower end with a button 11 threaded thereupon or otherwise detachably connected therewith, is provided intermediate its ends with a plurality of transverse apertures 12. A hub 13 having upon its upper face an annular groove 14 constituting a ball race wherein anti-friction balls 15 are mounted, is provided with a transverse aperture 16 for the reception of a bolt or pin 17 also engaging one of the apertures 12 in the rod 7 upon which the hub 13 may thus be secured at various adjustments.

The suspending device comprises a cap piece 18 having upon its upper side a centrally disposed sleeve 19 whereby it is supported for rotation upon the rod 7 above the hub 13; the underside of the cap plate resting upon the anti-friction bearing afforded by the balls 15. The cap plate 18 is provided with numerous perforations 20 arranged in series radiating from the center of the plate; said apertures being for the passage of the suspending rods 21, the upper ends of which are threaded for the reception of the knobs 22 whereby they are retained in connection with the cap plate. The suspending rods 21 which are preferably formed of resilient wire are provided at their lower ends with hooks 23.

24 designates a suspendlng hoop or band which may be formed of tubing, a piece of which of suitable dimensions may be bent to an approximately circular shape. Bearings B are provided upon said hoop for the hooks at the lower ends or the suspending rods, each of said bearings being composed of two half boxes 25 tapering toward their ends and adapted to be fitted upon the hoop 24. where they are secured by the resilient hook 23 of one of the suspending rods engaging an annular groove 26 formed exteriorly upon the bearing composed of the two half boxes. One of the bearings may be made to cover the joint 27 between the abutting ends of the piece of tubing from which the suspending hoop is formed as will be best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In Fig. 6' of the drawings has been illustrated a slightly modified construction of the cap plate; this member which is here desig nated 18 is made of considerable thickness, tapering to its outer edges and provided with a knob 19 through which an axial bow 25 extends. The cap plate when thus constructed may be advantageously made in a single piece in the form of a casting, the apertures 21 for the passage of the suspending rods being formed adjacent to the outer relatively thin edge of the plate.

A slightly modified construction of one of the bearing members has been illustrated in Fig. 7. Said member which is here composed of a single tubular sleeve 25 is cast or otherwise formed in one piece made tapering toward its ends and provided with an annular groove 26 affording a seat for the lower hook shaped end of the suspending arm. When the bearing members are thus made in a single piece a sufiicient number of them may be strung upon the hoop 24 previous to bending the same from a piece of tubing or the like. In other respects the construction will be as hereinbefore described.

Other minor changes in side, proportion and structural details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. Garments and articles of various kinds may be suspended from the hoop 24 and the suspending device is capable of being rotated upon the axis afforded by the rod 7, thus enabling each article suspended upon supporting device to be conveniently inspected in turn. The suspending device may be easily and noiselessly rotated owing to the presence of the anti-friction bearing; tilting of the cap plate upon the bearing in the event of one side of the suspending hoop being heavily loaded will be avoided by reason of the sleeve 19 which is connected with the cap plate; or owing to the thickness of the body portion of said cap plate, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The device may be very easily taken apart for storage or shipment, and it may be as easily reassembled for use. The suspending hook may, if desired, be made'up of a plurality of sections, the joints between such sections being covered and. protected by the bearing members B V 1 The general construction of the device is simple and inexpensive, and it will be found to be thoroughly eflicient for the purposes for which it is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, is I 1. In a device of the character described, a suspending rod, a cap plate supported'for rotation upon the rod, said cap. plate having a plurality of perforations, suspending rods extending through perforations in the cap plate and equipped with detachable buttons above the capplate, said rods having resilient hooks at their lower ends, a suspending hoop, and tubular bearings each hav ng an annular groove engaged by the resilient hook at the lower end of one of the suspending rods.

2. In a device of the character described,

an axial supporting rod having a plurality of transverse perforations, a hub having a ball race upon its upper side and balls titted therein, a pin extending transversely through the hub and through one of the perforations in the supporting rod, a cap plate supported for rotation upon the rod in engagement with the anti-friction bearing afforded by the hub, a suspending hoop, and rods connecting the said hoop with the car plate.

3. In a device of the character described,

a suspending hoop, bearing members mountv ed upon said hoop, said bearing members being composed of annularly grooved sleeves, and suspending members having resilient hooks embracing the bearing members.

4:. In a device of the character described, a suitably supported suspending hoop composed of tubing bentto an approximately circular shape, a bearing member covering the joint formed by the meeting ends of the pipe, and a suspending member having a resilient hook embracing the bearing member.

5. In a device oft-he character described,

an axial supporting rod, a hub adjustably supported upon said rod and having an antifriction bearing, a cap plate mounted upon said anti-friction bearing, a suspending hoop, and rods suspended 'from the cap plate and having terminal hooks supporting the suspending hoop. I

In testimony whereof'I afiix ny signature in presence of two witnesses.

, OSCAR B. WINSTON. V Witnesses: J. J ..M1FFL1N,-

GEO. HUDsrnTH. 

